12/16/12

Daisy

By: Lee Thomas Penn

-Son of-

Thomas Lee Penn

            “Bark!” said Daisy.

           

            Captain Wee stood sagely at the top of Daisy’s head. “Hold her steady, boys! We’re walking!” he shouted to his crew of fellow fleas.

            “Hold her steady!”

            The S.S. Daisy was walking 20 degrees North by Northwest of their current position. Captain Wee consulted a map in his left hip pocket and nodded.

            “A fine day, Felipe,” said the captain.

            “Yes sir,” said first mate Felipe.

            “What’s on the menu today, Felipe?”

            “Blood, sir.”

            “Very good. Has the pooch deck been cleaned?”

“Like a whistle, sir.”

“And how’s Francois?”

            “Still sick, sir.”

            “That’s a shame. Anything else to report?”

            Felipe paused for a moment in thought. “No, sir.”

            “Return to your duties.”

            Felipe relaxed and crawled away down toward the neck.

            Captain Wee leaned with the rocking motion of his vessel and breathed in the familiar smell of dog. Three long years – a ripe old age was three. He had loved. He had lost. He had made his fair share of mistakes and would gladly make them again. Maybe it was about time to retire, to pass on command to Felipe and see what life on The Tail was like. Maybe he’d meet a nice flea and have some eggs, name one after his grandfather, Finbar.

            He turned and walked toward the neck, content.

            “Bark!” said Daisy.

            Captain Wee stopped and stared at the joint between Daisy’s head and shoulders with dawning horror and repulsion.

            “Felipe! Dog damn it, how long has that been on my ship?!”

            “Sir, let me explain!”

            Captain Wee’s anger rose. “Damn it, HOW LONG HAS THAT FLEA COLLAR BEEN ON MY SHIP?!”

            “Sir, I… I love that flea collar!”

            Captain Wee was speechless.

            “It… It started two days ago. I know that she’s bad for me, but we can make it work! I…”

            “Two days… Then we are already lost.” Suddenly, Captain Wee felt very tired. “All hands, abandon ship! Abandon ship!”

            “Abandon ship! Abandon ship!” his crew began to relay.

            “But sir…”

            “That’s an order,” he growled. “Get off of my ship, maggot. It’s better than you deserve.”

            Felipe hung his head in shame. “Sir… I’m sorry.” And with a last look at the neck, Felipe jumped overboard.

            Captain Wee, dismayed, watched as each member of his crew jumped from the S.S. Daisy. And he watched with the tender heart of a father as Felipe fled. Felipe, who was still too young to have to pay for his mistakes.

            “I’ve had my share,” said Wee, Captain of the S.S. Daisy, as he waited to die.

            “Bark!” said Daisy.